Support or carriage for cash-registers.



PATBNTED DEC. 3, 190'?. C. OESTERLE. W. V. FRANK 6: W. H, ALTHOFF.

SUPPORT 0R CARRIAGE FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

llmlluli UNITED sTATEs PATENT o EEioE.

CHARLES OESTERLE AND WILLIAM V. FRANK, OF SPRINGFIELD, AND WILLIAM H.ALTHOFF,

OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SUPPORT R CARRIAGE FOR CASH-REGISTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, CHARLES -OEsTEELE and WILLiAM V. FRANK, residing atSpring field, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, and WILLIAM H.ALTHoFE, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery 4and State ofOhio, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Supports or Oarriages for Cash-Registers and Thepresent invention relates to supports or carriages for cash registersand the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a support for cash registersor other heavy devices which will be provided with a truck, the wheelsof which may be moved into and out of engagement with the supportingsurface, thereby rendering the support either stationary or movable; toprovide an improved truck for use in connection with the support; andfurther to provide such a support which may be adjusted to receive agreat variety of different sizes of cash registers or the like.

With these objects in view our invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction to be hereinafter described, and then morefully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view'of ourimproved support; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on theline a; w of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3is a detail view of the frame for the truck; Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsectional view taken on the line y y of Fig. l and looking in thedirection'of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken onthe line z z of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the trucks,showing a slightly modified form of the same.

In these drawings we have shown our invention in its preferred form, thesupport being indicated as a whole by the reference numeral l andconsistinor of four side plates 2 which are preferably i entical and areadjustably connected at their adjacent ends by the four corner pieces 3.The side plates are preferably of a width equal to the height of thesupport and of a length slightly less than the length of thecorresponding side of the support and have their inner faces rabbetedalong the edges thereof, as shown at 4, and are provided withlongitudinally extending the Like, of which the4 following is aspecification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.'

slots 5, the outer edges of whichlarebeveled, as shown at 6, to receivethe head ofa screw. The four corner pieces 3 are preferably identicaland consist of two arms 7 of a Width equal to the height of the supportand each of a length suflicient to overlap the corresponding side of thesupport for a distance slightly less than half the .length thereof. Theouter faces of the arms 7 of the corner pieces are shaped to correspondto the inner faces of the side plates 2 and are provided at their upperends with fianges or projections 8 corresponding to the rabbeted portion4 of the side members 2, thus forming an interlocking connection betweenthe-corner pieces and the side members of the frame and permi tting theouter faces of the side members 2 to lie substantially flush with theexposed outer sides of the corner pieces 3, and further permits thecorner pieces and the side members to be adjusted relatively one to theother. Screws 9, extending through the slots 5 in the side members andengaging a screw-threaded aperture in the arms 7 of the corner pieces,serve to lock the side members and the corner pieces in their adjustedposition.

A central connectinr member or partition 26 extends transversely of theframe and is secured at its opposite ends to the side members 2 at theopposite sides thereof. rIhis central partition is preferablyconstructed after the manner of the side members of the frame and hasits slidable endportions secured to that portion of the side plate `2which lies between the arms 7 of the corner pieces.

The central portion of the partition 26, which lies between the slidableends thereof, is provided with an elongated bearing a erture for thepurpose hereinafter descri ed. The corner pieces are also preferablyprovided with upwardly extending brackets l0 adapted to engage thecorners of the cash register, or other device which rests upon thesupport, and retain the same in position thereon. This constructionables the same to be adjusted equally in all directions to adapt it tosupport any size of cash register or other device, and also permits itto be extended a greater distance in one direction than in the other tovary the shape of the base to correspond to the diflerent registers tobe supported. The arms 7 of the of the base encorner pieces 3 areprovided on their inner 110 faced-with inwardly-extending flanges orprojections 11 extending from the upper edge of the arm at the inner endthereof to the lower edge thereof at the outer corner of the same.yThese rejections or flanges may be formed integrali with the arms 7, ormay be secured thereto in any suitable manner, and are of sufficientstrength to support the entire weight of the base and the devicesupported thereon.

The adjustable Wheels or truck for the support may be secured thereto inany suitable manner, that preferred bei-ng the truck shown in thedrawings which consists of a plate 12, whichextends in a substantiallyorizontal blanc, and is provided at its outer ends with ownwardlyextending portions 13 which, in turn, are provided wit 'i outwardlyextending projections or flanges 1&1 inclined to correspond to theinclined surface of the flange or projection 11 of the frame. This framefor the truck may be formed in a single piece or may be made in anysuitable 1nanner, but must be of sufficient strength to bear the weightof the frame and the device supported thereon.

Suitable casters or wheels 15 are secured to the truck frame 12 in anysuitable inanner, but we prefer the form of caster shown in the drawingsand secured to the truck in the manner therein shown. In employing thisform of caster we vprovide the plate 12 with bearing apertures 16 nearthe opposite ends thereof. Each aperture is screwthreaded to receive thescreuthreaded upper end of the bushing 17, which is provided with acentral opening of slightly less diameter than the aperture 16 in theplate proper. The enlarged lower portion or flange of the bushing 17 isprovided with an annular groove 1S forming part of a ball race. Thecaster 15 is provided with a spindle having an outwardly extendingflange or bearing portion 19 having formed in the upper edge thereof anannular groove 2O corresponding to the roove 18 in the bushing 17 andadapted to form therewith a ball race containing the bearing balls 21.The spindle 22 of the caster extends through the bearing aperture in thebushing 17 ani is secured therein bya suitable screw 23, the head ofwhich extends over the shoulder formed b y the reduced portion of thebushing 17 in the aperture 16 in the plate 12. The plate 12 is provided,preferably near the center thereof, with a downwardly extending lug 24which is provided with ascrewthreaded aperture extending transversely ofthe plate 12 and adapted to receive the screwthreaded end of the shaft25, which is journaled in the central late 26 of the frame 1 and is heldagainst ongitudinal movement therein by suitable collars 27. rlhis shaftis provided at its opposite ends with oppositely extending screw threadsadapted to engage the screw-threaded apertures in the frames of thetrucks at the op osite ends of the su port, and,when rotater to'movethese truc (s toward or away from one another.

The screw-threaded ortions of the rod preferably extend a conslderabledistance beyond the screw-threaded aperture, thereby allowing for theadjustment of the frame. The shaft 25 extends through an elongatedaperture in the side plate 2 at the front of the su port and is thereprovided with any suitablfe means for rotating the same in eitherdirection, the means here shown consisting of the usual two way pawl andratchet 28. In order that the. end of the shaft with its operating meansmay always project beyond the side of the frame, regardless of theadjusted position of the frame, we prefer to provide the outer end ofthe shaft with a sliding sleeve or extension 29, whichis provided withan inwardly extending pin 30, adapted to engage a groove 31 in the shaft25, and has the operating mechanism mounted on the outer end thereof, asshown. Thus, it will be seen that the shaft will be automaticallylengthened to accommodate it to the variations in the size of thesupport. The trucks are also made adjustable to permit the width of thesupport to be varied without moving the inclined members of the frameand the truck out of engagement one with the other. This adjustment ofthe truck we prefer to accomplish in the manner shown in these drawings,which consists in dividing the plate 12 of the truck near its ends, asshown at 32, and providing the short ends thereof with inwardlyextending pins 33, referably secured thereto in a substantiailyhorizontal plane by screwing the saine in suitable screw-threadedapertures 84 in said short ends of the plate. The central portion of theplate 12 is rovided with longitudinal apertures of considerable depthand adapted to register with thescrew-threaded apertures of the shortends of the plate and to receive the ends of the pins 33. Setscrews 35,extending through the walls of the recesses in the central portion,engage the pins 33 and retain the same in their adjusted positions.

The operation of the device will be obvious from the foregoingdescription. Briefly, it is as follows: The frame 1 is adjusted to re 1ccive the particular cash register, which it is, to support by looseningthe screws 9 and moving the corner pieces outward to the dey siredposition, after which the screws 9 are tightened down and the framelocked in its adjusted position. With the trucks movedhto the innermostposition adjacent to the central partition of the frame, the wheels orcas`V pprting the register in a fixed position. hen it is desired tomove the register the casters 15 are caused to travel along thesupporting surface by rotating the shaft 25 in the vproper direction,thereby moving the trucks towards the sides of the frame and jections orguideways l1 on the sides of the frame, and, as the trucks move outward,to elevate the frame 3 and raise the same out of engagement with thesupporting surface, thereby placing the entire weight of the frame, andthe register supported thereby, on the Wheels or casters and allowingthe same to be moved into any desired position, the swiveled ballbearing casters permitting the same to be readily moved in anydirection. When the register has been placed in the desired position,the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction and the trucks movedtoward the center of the frame, thus allowing the lower edges of theframe to again come into contact with the supporting surface and form astationary support for the register.

l/Ve wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, isz-- 1. A device of the characterdescribed comprising a frame having a plurality of inclined surfaces, aplurality oi trucks having inclined surfaces adapted to cooperate withthe inclined surfaces olsaid frame, and means for moving said trucks inopposite directions. j

2. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a framehaving oppositely inclined members, of trucks having guides ada ted toco crate with the inclined mem ers of said rame, and means for movingsaid trucks in opposite directions.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a framehaving op positely inclined members, of trucks having inclined membersadapted to cooperate with the inclined members of said frame, and meansfor moving said trucks simultaneously in opposite directions,substantiallyy as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a framehaving oppositely inclined members, of trucks having inclined membersadapted to cooperate with the inclined members of said frame andprovided with screw-threaded apertures, and a shaft journaled in saidframe and fixed against longitudinal movement, having its ends providedwith 'oppositely extending screw threads and adapted to engage thescrew-threaded apertures in said trucks,

and means for rotating saidshaft, substantially as described.

5. A device of the character described comprising a frame adjustableboth laterally and longitudinally, Wheels mounted on said frame1 andmeans for vertically adjusting causing the inclined guides 14 of thetruck to engage the lower inclined surface of the prosaid wheelsrelatively to said frame.

6. A device of the character described .comprising an adjustable framehaving inclined guideways, and an adjustable truck having guides adaptedto coperate with said guideways, and means for moving said truckrelatively to said adjustable frame, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a framecom rising side members, corner pieces adjustaiily secured thereto, andinclined guideways carried by said frame, of trucks h ving guidesadapted to engage said guideways, and means for moving said trucksrelatively to said frame, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a framecomprising side members, corner pieces having arms adjustably secured tosaid sidemembers, and inclined guineways carried by saidarms, of truckshaving guides adapted to engage said inclined guideways, and means formoving said trucks relatively to said frame, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a framecomprising side members, corner pieces having arms extending parallel tosaid side members and slidably connected thereto, means for locking saidarms and said side members in their adjusted positions, and inclinedguideways carried by said arms, of a truck, a guide carried by saidtruck adapted to move in said guideways, and means for moving said truckrelatively to said frame, substantially as described.

10. In a device ofthe character described, the combination, With a mainframe having inclined guideways, of a truck com rising a frame havingdownwardly exten ing end members, inclined flanges carried by said endmembers adapted to cooperate with the inclined guideways of said mainframe, and means for moving said truck relatively t0 said main frame,substantially as described.

11. ln a device of the character described, the combination, with anadjustable frame having inclined guideways, of a truck comprising acentral member, end members adjustably secured thereto, a guide carriedby said end members adapted to coperate with the inclined guideways insaid frame, and means for moving said truck relatively to said frame,substantially as described.

12. ln a device of the character described, thc combination, with anadjustable iframe having inclined guideways, of a truck cornprising acentral portion having longitudinal apertures in the ends thereof, endportions, pins rigidly secured to said end portions and adapted to enterthe apertures in said central portion, guides carried by said endportions and adapted to cooperate with the inclined guideways of saidframe, and means for moving said truck relatively to said frame,substantially as described.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination, with aframe having ine clined guideways, and a connecting member extendingtransversely of said frame intermediate the ends thereof, of truckshaving guides adapted to cooperate with said inclined guideways and eachprovided with a screw-threaded aperture, a shaft journaled in saidtransverse member and having its ends provided with oppositely extendingscrew threads adapted to engage the screW-threafL ed apertures in saidtrucks, means 'for holding said shaft against longitudinal movement, andmeans for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination, with anadjustable frame having inclined guideways, of a truck having guidesadapted to cooperate with said guide- Ways and provided with ascrew-threaded aperture, a shaft mounted in said frame and having ascrew-threaded portion adapted to engage said screw-threaded aperture, asleeve journaled in said frame, extending over the end of said shaft andconnected thereto so as on said sleeve for rotating said shaft, sub-4stantially as described.

15. In a device of the character described, an adjustable framecomprising side members consisting of vertically extending plateshaving` projections on the inner surfaces, corner pieces having armsextending parallel with said side members and provided With groovesadapted to receive said projections, and means for adjustably connectingsaid arms to said side members.

16. A device of the character described comprising a frame havingguides, a plurality of trucks having guides adapted to coperate with theguides on said frame, the engaging surfaces of one set of said guidesbeing inclined, and means for moving said trucks in opposite directions.i

In testimonyT whereof We affix our signatures in the presence of twoWitnesses.

CHARLES OESTERLE. WILLIAM V. FRANK. TILLIAM H. ALTHOFF.

Titnesses to the signatures of Charles Oesterle and Iilliam V. Frank:

A. C. LiNK, EDWARD L. REED.

'itnesses to the signature of William II. Althofli:

IfIARRiET L. HAMMAKER, FRANCIS M. HAGAN, Jr.

